Old Town Aquarium - Question

jglackin

jglackin

New member
I have noticed that Old Town Aquarium is not in the "Which Pet Shops do you Prefer" poll. I also have not noticed any posts regarding OTA. I am in there almost every week. Is there something I am missing or are all of you suburbanites and just find it inconvenient to drive to Old Town?
 
I like Old Town - I buy all my FW fish there - very healthy. Their coral can be a little overpriced, but they do get some nice stuff in. More often than not, many of their coral specimens are too large for my liking. I live in the city (10 minutes away), but still consider it inconvenient - parking on Wells is a nightmare any time of the day.

Not to mention, I think that poll is pretty old.
 
I go there all the time and live in old town...suburbanites find it too costly and have trouble with parallel parking!

the parking is tough but if you spend $20 it is validated at Pipers Alley.
 
I find the staff to be pretty arrogant. They also recommended Rio as the best brand of pump to me. I live downtown, but I go to Aquatic World whenever I can...try to avoid giving my money to a place that is rude to their customers.
 
I am there almost weekly. Parking is a challenge, but patience pays off.

I buy my RO water and I buy premixed saltwater there. I only have a 12 gallon nano, but I have it packed with corals and critters, and I do not have a skimmer, so I am rather psycho about water changes. I also pick up frags when I see them. I do find them expensive on some things, but if you go in often enough, you can pick up some nice stuff for a good price.

I am flying to NYC tomorrow to look at a 170 gallon curved glass tank. I expect to buy it, but I do not want to drop thousands on a set up sight unseen when I can fly round trip to NYC for less than $100. If the set up is at the quality I expect, I will buy it and have it shipped. If not, the search will be back on. Once I have this tank, I will then spring for my own RO set up and I will start making my own saltwater. That of course is because now I will be stocking a 170 gallon tank and buying all kinds of gadgets, so I will be too poor to buy premixed saltwater.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9481835#post9481835 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
I find the staff to be pretty arrogant. They also recommended Rio as the best brand of pump to me. I live downtown, but I go to Aquatic World whenever I can...try to avoid giving my money to a place that is rude to their customers.
Click to expand...

I have always found them to be quite the opposite. They have always been patient with my stupid questions and very accommodating in digging out and selling me small frags that break off larger pieces. I am in there often enough to where, when I do walk in, they will brief me on what is new from the latest shipments and they know my tank, so they will make recommendations automatically according to what I have in my tank and size restrictions.

They are many times very busy and don't have the time to immediately come to me and help me, but I just walk around and look around for myself and eventually they will come help me.
 
I worked in the industry for about 8 years. My dream job was to work there. 2 weeks after being hired, they had a relative move in from out of town & he got my job! :(
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9481966#post9481966 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
Maybe when spending more $$$ on stocking a much larger tank, you'll be looking for less expensive shops.
Click to expand...

Yes, that could very well be. There is a place in Dayton, Ohio (believe it or not), that is the most amazing fish store I have ever been in (http://www.saltwaterwarehouse.com/). I am quite amazed that there is no place like this in the Chicago area. When I do get ready to stock my tank, I will likely get it from here. They have a massive selection of everything and they are very cheap. It's the 5 hour drive that bites.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9481999#post9481999 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jglackin
They are many times very busy and don't have the time to immediately come to me and help me, but I just walk around and look around for myself and eventually they will come help me.
Click to expand...

I agree - they don't always come right up and ask you if you need help, but to me, that's fine. I'll ask for help when I need it. jglackin - you won't regret getting an RO unit - even if for a nano - it pays for itself pretty quickly.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9482104#post9482104 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PSam
you won't regret getting an RO unit - even if for a nano - it pays for itself pretty quickly.
Click to expand...

Actually, what I am likely going to end up doing is putting in an RO unit for my house. If tap water is not so good for my fish and corals, it can't possibly be that good for me to drink it and cook with it.
 
Chicago has great water, it just contains phosphates and silcates that cause algae and cyno in aquariums. It is one of the best rated drinking waters in the midwest actually. I wish i could find the link i read to show you.
I dont think you will not need an RO unit for the entire house. I can only imagine what it would cost to maintain it with new filters.
Anybody that makes the rounds to the well rated fish stores around the city and suburbs understands what people have been saying here.
There are certain places around to get great coral, great fish, inexpensive supplies etc... IMHO Old Town is not on my personel list because of some of the reasons stated by others.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9482150#post9482150 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jglackin
Actually, what I am likely going to end up doing is putting in an RO unit for my house. If tap water is not so good for my fish and corals, it can't possibly be that good for me to drink it and cook with it.
Click to expand...

RO water is extremely wasteful - please consider that you need ~50 gallons of water to make 10 gallons of RO. That varies, but you get the idea. Plus, Chicago water comes from Lake MI - some of the finest FW in the world :thumbsup:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9482248#post9482248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PSam
RO water is extremely wasteful - please consider that you need ~50 gallons of water to make 10 gallons of RO. That varies, but you get the idea. Plus, Chicago water comes from Lake MI - some of the finest FW in the world :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I would not hook my showers and toilets to it. I am talking about my kitchen - sink, refrigerator, etc.

Yes, I love drinking Lake Michigan water. Especially during the times when they close the beaches. I play a game sometimes when I am running along the lake in the summer - I like to count the dead fish floating on the water.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9482422#post9482422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jglackin
Thanks for the info. I would not hook my showers and toilets to it. I am talking about my kitchen - sink, refrigerator, etc.
Click to expand...

IMHO, still very wasteful. Plus the cost in filters alone...
 
You can get a basic whole house filter to remove the chlorine taste and filters some finer particles for less than 100 dollars. But it is a DIY hook up. Water tastes good with this filter. But I still use my RO/DI for my reef tanks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9481909#post9481909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jglackin
I am there almost weekly. Parking is a challenge, but patience pays off.

I buy my RO water and I buy premixed saltwater there. I only have a 12 gallon nano, but I have it packed with corals and critters, and I do not have a skimmer, so I am rather psycho about water changes. I also pick up frags when I see them. I do find them expensive on some things, but if you go in often enough, you can pick up some nice stuff for a good price.

I am flying to NYC tomorrow to look at a 170 gallon curved glass tank. I expect to buy it, but I do not want to drop thousands on a set up sight unseen when I can fly round trip to NYC for less than $100. If the set up is at the quality I expect, I will buy it and have it shipped. If not, the search will be back on. Once I have this tank, I will then spring for my own RO set up and I will start making my own saltwater. That of course is because now I will be stocking a 170 gallon tank and buying all kinds of gadgets, so I will be too poor to buy premixed saltwater.
Click to expand...

Off topic, but I'm guessing you are going to look at an AquaVim tank? The website is www.4fishtank.com and the company is the ChinaSouth company? They are the only curved glass people I know of besides Oceanic...at any rate, I'll save ya the trip to NYC, you can stop by and look at mine. I was pretty impressed by the quality...if you grab a tank from their specials page its a helluva a deal. I got my RR half cylinder 118g with cherry stand and canopy for 1100.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9482598#post9482598 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
Off topic, but I'm guessing you are going to look at an AquaVim tank? The website is www.4fishtank.com and the company is the ChinaSouth company? They are the only curved glass people I know of besides Oceanic...at any rate, I'll save ya the trip to NYC, you can stop by and look at mine. I was pretty impressed by the quality...if you grab a tank from their specials page its a helluva a deal. I got my RR half cylinder 118g with cherry stand and canopy for 1100.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is them. I am buying their Ocean View Library Aquarium in Cherry. I have spoken to another person that has bought two systems from them and her experience is much different than yours. There are some posts here at RC that are less than flattering. Fortunately, most of it seems to be around customer service and not quality.

Don't take away my excuse for a weekend in NYC!! However, I may take you up on your offer to see your set up. Where do you live?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Structural support for 125 gallon aquarium
Replies
7
Views
211
ddang
D
davisl
SOLARIS PFOaquatics with I5 Power Supply - AUTO settings question, there a manual?
Replies
5
Views
317
oreo57
oreo57
R
Is it aiptasia or maybe hydroids?
Replies
3
Views
327
griss
griss
Guygettnby
To reseal or not to reseal 120g.
Replies
5
Views
395
griss
griss
Hong Kong
New Acrylic aquarium - I'm back after 30 y.
14 15 16
Replies
306
Views
10K
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Back
Top